The inaugural Scottish Podcast Awards land in Glasgow on 25 June, featuring 400+ entries and a public-voted Spotify prize
The inaugural Scottish Podcast Awards will be staged at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket on 25 June, marking a significant moment for audio creators across Scotland. Organisers say the ceremony attracted more than 400 entries spanning entertainment, sport, business and culture, which highlights the breadth of the country’s audio output.
The awards introduce a public-facing element through the Spotify Listeners’ Choice Award, a category decided entirely by listeners using Spotify as the voting platform. For context, this initiative comes as podcasting continues to expand globally, with audiences and production infrastructure both on the rise.
Scotland’s appetite for podcasts has been underlined by official data: Ofcom reports that almost a quarter of adults in Scotland listen to podcasts weekly, the highest rate among UK nations, and nearly half of Gen Z tune in regularly. At the same time, creators and companies point to more than 4.5 million podcasts available worldwide as evidence of a crowded but opportunity-rich landscape.
The awards aim to celebrate standout work while giving listeners a direct role via the Listeners’ Choice format and removing financial barriers by waiving entry fees for creators.
Who is on the shortlist and why it matters
A wide mix of familiar faces and homegrown audio-first talent are in contention for the Spotify public prize. Names announced for the Listeners’ Choice include household personalities such as Ford Kiernan, former footballer and podcaster Si Ferry of Open Goal, and entertainer Grado, alongside creators like Jess Tedds, Zoe Quinn and the comedy duo behind Some Laugh. Podcast teams such as Girls Overheard and collaborative shows that have morphed into live events are also in the running. The mix demonstrates how traditional media figures and independent producers now share the same platforms and audience attention.
Notable contenders and live success stories
One standout example is Open Goal, a podcast that began as an online football show and grew into a live phenomenon, selling out major venues. That trajectory exemplifies the potential for podcasts to evolve into multi-format franchises that include live tours and merchandise. Other nominees have similarly leveraged audio to build direct relationships with listeners, proving the power of long-form conversation and niche storytelling in converting audiences into engaged fans who will vote in public categories like the Spotify Listeners’ Choice Award.
How the awards were created and who is behind them
The event has been organised by Sixty Steps Productions, a company set up by founders Mark Moir, Scot Gardiner and Corrinne Gardiner. They designed the programme to highlight Scottish talent and to create a focal point for the industry. The awards have secured support from Spotify, which is serving as the official voting partner for the public prize. Organisers deliberately removed entry fees to encourage a broader range of creators to participate and to ensure the celebration is accessible to independent producers and established studios alike.
Organisers’ vision and industry response
Corrinne Gardiner said organisers sensed a moment when podcasting in Scotland had reached a tipping point, with new studios opening and more creators launching shows across the country. She described the awards as an answer to repeated industry requests for recognition and shared platforms. Mark Moir added that audio is becoming a preferred way for audiences to consume content on their own terms, and that Scotland possesses the creative and technical resources to become a significant podcasting hub. Their comments underline a belief that the awards will help accelerate the sector’s development.
What listeners need to know
The full list of nominees will be published on Wednesday, at which point tickets for the ceremony at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket will also go on sale. Fans nationwide will be able to vote for the Spotify Listeners’ Choice Award through the platform, determining the winner by public ballot. Spotify’s UK & Ireland head of podcasts, Talia Stolerman, welcomed the collaboration, saying the company is proud to support Scotland’s podcasting community and to make it easier for audiences to back the shows they love. The awards will therefore combine industry adjudication with a genuine audience-driven prize.
